10 Terrific Ways to Use One iPad or iPhone in the Classroom by Christy Crawford (Scholastic). Teachers don't need a suite of smartphones or a tablet for every student to make an impact with iPads and iPhones, asserts Christy Crawford, an elementary teacher in New York. In this blog post, she shares 10 ways teachers can transform lessons with a single device, such as students taking turns on a tablet to learn how to code.

A New Approach to Designing Educational Technology (Is the biggest learning disability an emotional one?) by Chris Berdik (Slate). What motivates students to learn? The top challenge for Universal Design for Learning initiatives in schools is engaging otherwise disinterested students in school, suggests David Rose, a neuropsychologist and co-founder of the Center for Applied Special Technology. Rose and his team are focused on using technology and other approaches to create an environment that will "turn on that drive" to learn for students.

IN THE CLASSROOM - Learning

Against Technology (the word) by Heidi Hayes Jacobs (ASCD). "Simply having a computer doesn't mean that the curriculum and instruction are contemporary and relevant," writes ASCD author and EDge community member Heidi Hayes Jacobs. In a recent Inservice post, Hayes Jacobs discusses why the focus should move from technology to a focus on contemporary learning environments.

Digital distraction in the modern classroom by Paul Barnwell (SmartBlog). Despite the best of intentions, students can be easily distracted by digital devices in the classroom, according to educator Paul Barnwell. In this blog post, he writes about the potential downside of becoming overly reliant on technology in the classroom.

QUIZLET Quizlet is a free website providing learning tools for students, including flashcards, study and game modes.

How to minimize digital classroom distractions by Kyle Albert (eSchool News). Technology has various academic uses in the classroom, but educators and experts say it also can be distracting for students. In this article, Kyle Albert, a researcher and writer specializing in the integration between technology and education, writes about several ways teachers can help control such distractions, such as setting clear guidelines and keeping students' attention with engaging lessons

ANTI-PLAGIARISM

Turnitin And The Debate Over Anti-Plagiarism Software by Cory Tirner (nprEd). A growing number of universities and high schools are using anti-plagiarism software programs to compare students' papers to online content. About a quarter of high schools nationwide -- and more than half of higher-education institutions -- use Turnitin to pinpoint areas where students' papers appear similar to existing content, according to the company.

APPS

9 Most Dangerous Apps for Kids by Felicia Alvarez (I Believe). In 2013, a twelve-year-old girl was lured away from her home by a 21 year-old-man. Once they met, he took her to a motel and took advantage of her. How did this little girl meet this terrible stranger?

BLOGS and BLOGGING

THE 'CLOUD'

DIGITAL SAFETY

Are Your Kids Addicted To Their Phones? 'Screenagers' Wants to Help by Keith Wagstaff (Forbes). Teenagers spend almost nine hours each day in front of screens, including television and smartphones, according to Common Sense Media. A new documentary, "Screenagers," focuses on the addiction to screen time and the importance of setting boundaries.

"Think Before You Link" - A new, free online course for students in grades three to eight to help educate them about online safety, bullying and Internet ethics. The program comes at a time when students increasingly are living their lives online, raising concern among parents and teachers about their safety.

EVERNOTE

It’s Time to Retire Your Trusty Day Planner by Frank Buck (MiddleWeb). Tips for organized leadership. In this commentary, former teacher, principal and administrator Frank Buck suggests school leaders get organized with the help of free mobile app Evernote. Buck asserts that the app can help improve efficiency.

GAMES/GAMIFICATION

My Beef with the Gamification of Education by Bill Ferriter (CTQ). Technology is best used as a learning tool in projects where students connect with and potentially affect their communities, writes middle-grades educator Bill Ferriter. In this blog post, he criticizes the repetitive approach to learning skills emphasized by some educational games and suggests that interacting in real-world lessons is a better approach to teaching 21st-century skills such as collaboration and reflection.

GOOGLE

Teach your students the right way to Google by Kelly Maher (eSchool News). It is more important than ever for students to learn how to conduct online searches safely and effectively, a teacher and technology coordinator, Kelly Maher, writes in this blog post. She shares several tips to help teach students "the right way to Google."

GOOGLE DOCS

Capture ideas with voice typing in Google Docs by Sean Williams (SmartBrief). The voice-typing feature of Google Docs is useful for students who want to capture their ideas, Sean Williams writes. In this blog post, he offers several tips that can help students use the technology tool.

GOOGLE MAPS

Digital storytelling with Google Map tools by Will Kimbley (SmartBlog). Google Map has tools that can help students create stories across multiple subjects, instructional technology consultant Will Kimbley suggests. This blog post details what Google Earth, Google Tour Builder and Google My Maps can do and offers tutorials teachers can access to get acquainted with these tools.

INSTAGRAM

Why secondary school educators should join Instagram by Alexandra Fenwick (ASCD). Teachers have turned to Twitter, Pinterest and more for professional development and to grow their professional learning network. But what about Instagram? In a recent Inservice post, a few secondary school teachers who are active on Instagram share why they believe Instagram is a great place for networking and more.

What does research really say about iPads in the classroom? by Jeanne Carey Ingle and Tanya Moorehead (eSchool News). Educators Jeanne Carey Ingle and Tanya Moorehead in this commentary share five takeaways from research on the use of iPads in the classroom. Research, they write, shows that iPads improve learning and student engagement. Researchers also have found that iPads can level the playing field for all students, they note.

LAPTOPS

Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away by James Doubek (NPR). Study: Students retain more when taking notes by hand. Students retain more information when they take notes by hand, according to a study by Pam Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel Oppenheimer of the University of California at Los Angeles. Data show that students are more likely to try to take verbatim notes using laptops, but those that did performed worse when asked some follow-up questions.

PASSWORD ISSUES

PINTEREST

Pinning Student Creativity Resources With MaryLea Harris (ASCD Inservice). "If something is fun, or messy, or beautiful, you remember it," writes art and creativity expert MaryLea Harris. In a recent Inservice post, Harris discusses the importance of creativity in the classroom and shares advice for educators. She also unveils her new shared Pinterest board with ASCD that is completely devoted to student creativity.

PODCASTS

High School Teachers Tune In Students With Podcasts (Podcast assignments can show teens another way to tell stories) by Alexandra Pannoni (US News). More teachers are introducing podcasts in the classroom to teach writing, storytelling and listening skills. Using the popular podcast "Serial" as inspiration, students at a Washington state high school recently wrote podcast episodes in their writing workshop and then used technology, including their smartphones, to create and record the podcasts.

POWERPOINT

Learning from PowerPoint: is it time for teachers to move on? by Michelle Denise Miller (The Conversation). PowerPoint slideshows can be an effective part of online teaching and learning -- when used the right way, asserts Michelle Denise Miller, director of the First Year Learning Initiative at University College and a professor of psychological sciences. "But they shouldn't be the main, or the only, method of instruction -- any more than lectures should dominate face-to-face classes," she writes in this commentary.

Powering Pedagogy by Margaret Don (Language Magazine). PowerPoint can enhance classroom lessons if the focus is on people and not the slides, writes Margaret Rose Don, adjunct professor of Spanish at the University of San Diego, California. In this commentary, she shares several ways to use PowerPoint in language classes.

Why Your Students Forgot Everything On Your PowerPoint Slides by Mary Jo Madda (EdSurge). PowerPoint or slide presentations that rely too heavily on text can overwhelm students, former middle-school teacher Mary Jo Madda warns. Based on research by Richard Mayer, a brain scientist at the University of California Santa Barbara, educators should focus on images and limit themselves to one word per slide, Madda writes.

PUBLISHING - Professional

QR CODES

Accessing Multimedia Using QR Codes by Monica Burns (Edutopia). QR codes can quickly and easily connect students to high-quality multimedia, such as video, audio or text, educator and consultant Monica Burns writes in this blog post. Burns explains how students can use devices equipped with QR code-reader applications to scan teacher-created codes that instantly link students to a specific image or resource.

SKYPE

Skype Connects Classrooms With Field Trips Around the World by D. Frank Smith (EdTech). Skype's video chats have developed into an innovative tool for global classroom collaboration. How educators use Skype in the classroom. Educators are using Skype for various activities, such as taking students on virtual field trips and connecting students with their peers around the world. Skype offers access to free field trips to places such as Yellowstone National Park.

TRAINING IN TECHNOLOGY

TWITTER

Twitter Tips to Help Teachers Become Tweeting Pros by (EdTech). Social media can be a powerful learning tool for educators, asserts Steven Anderson, a former teacher and technology director. He spoke recently at the TCEA 2015 conference, where he offered seven tips to help teachers use Twitter more effectively.

VIDEO CREATION - Simple

Tech Tip: Solving the “How to” dilemma by Adrian Cantu (SmartBlog). Educator: How to develop simple "how to" videos. Adrian Cantu, a social studies strategist at Weslaco Independent School District in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, suggests using Screencastify to develop "how to" videos. In this blog post, Cantu describes how to use the program.